18 BULLETIN UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SUEVEY. 



Melospiza lincolni, (Aud.) Bd. — Lincoln's Finch. 



This bird was seen iu small flocks about the low bushes in exposed 

 places in the vicinity of Brownsville. Farther up the river I did not 

 notice any. They were full of song, and rather shy, darting into the 

 bushes at my approach. 



136— i —6.00 X 8.10 X 2.50 x 2.00. Apr. 2, Brownsville. 



146— <J —5.75 X 8.00 x 2.40 x 2 25. Apr. 3, Brownsville, 



211— ^ —5.60 X 8.40 x 2.50 x 2.25. Apr. 17, Brownsville. 



212— <? —5.85 X 8.40 x 2.50 x 2.50. Apr. 17, Brownsville. 



Peuc^a cassini,* ( Woodh.) Bd. — Gassings Finch. 



This shy Finch is quite common about Brownsville early in the season. 

 Its colors render it almost invisible while at rest. At the first sight of 

 man, it darts into the thickest of bushes, and is with difficulty frightened 

 out. It is a sweet singer, and, when undisturbed, is usually perched on 

 the topmost branches of low bushes. Its song, although not loud, is 

 quite distinct from that of other birds, and once heard cannot be mis- 

 taken. I did not meet with it above Brownsville. 



188— J —6.25 X 8.50 x 2.60 x 2.60. Apr. 9, Brownsville. 

 189—^—6.25 X 8.25 x 2.55 x 2.50. Apr. 9, Brownsville. 



Amphispiza BILINEATA, (Cass.) Coues. — BlacJc-throated Finch. 



These beautiful little birds, almost as restless as the Titmice, were 

 found in all suitable localities on the Rio Grande. At the time I saw 

 them they were always in pairs, and not at all shy, and I enjoyed watch- 

 ing them exceedingly. I refrained from shooting many, with a view to 

 finding their eggs. Every few days I would visit certain localities, 

 where I never failed to find the birds, but was quite unsuccessful in 

 finding their nests. 



There is a bush on the Rio Grande, whose name I could not learn, 

 common in exposed and dry places, usually on barren knolls bordering 

 the resacas, whose scanty leaves are so small that it at all times pre- 

 sents a dull and lifeless appearance. It is this bush that the Black- 

 throated Finches like to frequent. The male will sit on the top of a 

 bush, four or five feet from the ground, and sing to his mate by the 

 hour, she meanwhile flitting from bush to bush, as if her nest was near, 

 though in no way manifesting any alarm. On the 6th of May I shot 

 a nearly full-grown young, this showing that they begin to lay very 

 early. 



122— <? —5.40 X 8.25 x 2.50 x 2.35. Mar. 31, Brownsville. 



123— 9 —5.35 X 8.00 x 2.35 x 2.25. Mar. 31, Brownsville. 

 292—^ —5.60 X 8.25 X 2.50 X 2.35. Apr. 28, Hidalgo. 

 298—^ —,5.50x8.25x2.50x2.25. Apr. 29, Hidalgo. 

 381—^ juv.— 5.10 X 8.00 x 2.50 x 2.00. May 6, Hidalgo. 



* [Important specimens, illustrating this good species in its purity. See the correction 

 of the error I committed in the "Key", in Birds of the Northwest, p. 140. — E. C] 



